Sampras Is Still No. 1, But Look Out For Rafter In '99

CHARLES BRICKER ON TENNIS

December 13, 1998|CHARLES BRICKER ON TENNIS

It's over and Pete Sampras has his record sixth consecutive year at No. 1 and Alex Corretja, who already had had a wonderful season, saved his biggest surprise for the end by winning the ATP Championships and becoming the first Spaniard to be ranked No. 3 since 1973.

The men's tour restarts on Jan. 4 with tournaments in Adelaide and Doha with the Australian Open to begin Jan. 18.

Here's the final top 10 and what they need to do to step up their games for the coming season:

1. Pete Sampras (61-17, 4 titles, including Wimbledon): First thing Pete needs to do is chill out. He's had a very temperamental season, twice refusing to shake a chair umpire's hand, throwing his racket, swearing on court and taking rips at the U.S. media. The second thing he needs to do is commit to doing the right thing if he wants a shot at winning the French Open, the only Grand Slam to escape him. He has to go to Spain for at least three weeks after Lipton and train there with a Spanish coach. He should retain coach Paul Annacone, but for the clay season he needs someone who has been there, done that.

2. Marcelo Rios (68-17, 7 titles): Mechanically, there is nothing he needs. He has it all, including a deceptively effective serve. What Rios needs is a real coach (he's currently working with Argentine doubles expert Luis Lobo after firing Larry Stefanki) and to grow up emotionally. He also needs to show he has the guts to play better in the majors.

3. Alex Corretja (57-21, 5 titles): Keep working on adding punch to his shots. He is one of the fittest, most quietly competitive players on tour with great defensive skills and excellent foot speed. He needs a bigger serve to steal more one- and two-shot points.

4. Patrick Rafter (60-21, 6 titles, including the U.S. Open): He learned how to stay at the top after getting to the top. To make the final ascent to No. 1, and remain there, he must perform better indoors. Because he's a serve-and-volleyer, there are those who think he can't produce on clay. If the clay is baked hard enough, he's dangerous at the French. Great competitor who ought to be No. 1 at the end of 1999.

5. Carlos Moya (49-29, 2 titles, including the French Open): Atypical Spaniard who combines power and great clay court play. He can win on any surface, but he needs to develop a stronger backhand on the hardcourts. He's beginning to resemble a Jim Courier clone the way he hits inside-out forehands.

6. Andre Agassi (68-18, 5 titles): Didn't make the top five, as he had predicted, but to come back from No. 140 showed his commitment to reaching his full potential. There is every reason to believe he'll keep working hard in 1999, but he has to do better at the majors. Out in first round of the French (Marat Safin), out in second round at Wimbledon (Tommy Haas), out in the 16s at U.S. Open (Karol Kucera).

7. Tim Henman (59-29, 2 titles): So different from fellow Brit Greg Rusedski, but there is one common denominator with both _ they work hard. Henman has a classic game and he has added better location to an already excellent serve. Superb athlete who won't wear down, but he has to become a better clay court player to keep his ranking high.

8. Karol Kucera (53-29, 2 titles): The smoothest, most elegant hitter in the top 10, but he can't get much higher until he adds a big weapon. His defensive skills have prevented the big hitters from blowing him away. But he needs to spend the next month working on his serve, and especially his second serve.

9. Greg Rusedski (53-22, 2 titles): Not the most likeable player on tour, but you have to admire the way he has squeezed out every ounce of his limited gift for the game. He's no longer just a big server. More improvement needs on his backhand passing shots and returns in general. He'll never be good on clay and that probably will prevent him from reaching the top five with any consistency.

10. Richard Krajicek (45-15, 2 titles): Had his knee operation two weeks ago. It's amazing how well he did this year playing with a cartilage tear. He must regain his fitness level and continue to improve a service return that got a lot better in 1998. There is definitely another Grand Slam title in his racket. He should be back for the Australian Open.

Courier is about cooked, though he's not going to quit, despite a recurring shoulder injury. But Gambill finished strong and is good position to crack the top 20 in 1999. He is coachable, intense, talented and committed.

None of the Americans, however, deserves as much applause as Martin, who has come back from elbow surgery and battled back into the top 20.